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Dan Leach's 2014 NFL Locks: Week 14 'Holiday Steam' Edition

By Dan Leach
@dtmleach

With the NFL season heating up , so do my NFL picks, which will be here for you each and every week to help you win your pick-em-pool, embarrass your friends, and just become a more whole football fan and human being. I will take a look at five games each week with the best value and rate them on a sliding lock of the week 1-10 scale. I have been on fire for you all season long and do not expect to slow down as we enter the home stretch. And....Here....We....Go!

DTM Song Of The Week: Bob Dylan "All Along The Watchtower" From Woodstock 1994

Many attribute Dylan's legendary 94' Woodstock set as a catalyst for the last 20 amazing years of the rockers historic "Never Ending Tour." I simply watch and listen to one of the worlds greatest artists talk to me through this riveting anthem for all time.

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers 8:30 p.m. Monday TV ESPN (Packers -13)

The Pack looked as impressive as any team this season in taking care of the red-hot Patriots last week in Lambeau. Now they get to host a Falcons team on MNF that is playing better football, but not anywhere near the level of G.B. Therein lies the rub! After last week, the Pack are naturally going to let down a little but and that is the prefect spot for the Dirty Birds to hang in this game as they somehow, someway are still alive for the NFC South with just 5 wins going into week 14. Look for Matty Ice and the Falcons to keep this game respectable in front of the national audience.

5.5 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Falcons +13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions 1 p.m. EST Sunday TV Fox RADIO 971 The Ticket (Lions -10)

We all remember what happened last year when the Bucs came calling to Ford Field. The Lions season imploded after going down to then Greg Schiano's Swashbucklers. Well, it is a different Bucs coach now in Lovie Smith and a totally different Lions team under Jim Caldwell. The question is: Will the result be any different? ABSOLUTELY! Yes, this Bucs team has been able to hang in each of their last six games with a putrid offense aside from Mike Evans and a D that is playing above their heads.

The Lions know what a loss in any of their next three games could mean and they will not let a repeat of what transpired last year happen in 14 after how far this team has seemingly come. Detroit is likely to get back all their key injured players aside from Nick Fairley against T.B and the offense seems ready to continue to explode. There will be some early moments that will remind Lions fans of last year's Bucs game, but those memories will be sand-blasted away as the Lions take a big lead and don't look back.

LIONS 31 BUCS 10

6.5 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – LIONS -10

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos 4:05 PM EST Sunday TV CBS 62 (Broncos -10)

This is one of those super intriguing late season tilts between a team that is definitely going to the playoffs and one that is fighting for its playoff life. There are tremendous value in games like this and that is why no one circles the ATS wagons in week 14 like the Buffalo Bills! Denver has been up and down over the past six weeks, but they seem to be getting it together at the right time. This Bills team though has been scrapping and clawing its way to playoff contention and I don't see that changing against the powerful, but not infallible Broncos in the Mile High City on Sunday.

7.1 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Bills +10

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints 1 p.m. EST Sunday TV Fox (Saints -10.5)

Oh the NFC South! Football's equivalent to the American Conference in college football. The fact that the leader of this division has five wins going into week 14 is all you need to know about how awful it has been this year. The real possibility that a 6 win team could take the division crown is even more alarming.

This is last chance time for the Panthers, who have easily been one of the NFL's biggest disappointments this season. The emergence of rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin and the always steady TE Greg "Olson" Twins gives this offense a chance along with Cam Cam Newton to score some points, but lately that has been the Panthers biggest issue. Look for them to hang it all on the table against their division rival and keep themselves in this game until the end.

7.4 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Panthers +10.5

Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns 1 p.m. EST Sunday TV CBS 62 (colts -3.5)

The Browns made the right move by sticking with everyone's favorite Sparty, Brian Hoyer, as their starting QB and not giving into the Johnny Football circus. While it was the best decision that gives Cleveland the best chance to win, they run into a Colts team that seems ready to lift off into high playoff form. With one more win, Indy can all but wrap up the AFC South and start thinking about a possible first round bye come playoff time. Cleveland has fought hard all season long and will in this game as well, but Indy just has too much and will show why they are still my AFC fave to get to Super Bowl XLIX

8 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Colts-3 (buy down to 2.5)

ODDS TIDBIT -- Lions currently 25-1 to win Super Bowl XLIX after being as low 16-1 in the past three weeks and are 10-1 to win NFC (3rd selection behind Green Bay and Seattle) Detroit now +$400 to win NFC North with Packers the fave at -$700, their highest odds of the season.

Last week 2-1 on Thanksgiving; 3-2 on Sunday
DTM'S 2014 Record ATS:41-22
DTM's 2013 Record ATS:43-26

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